A3 Hindhead Tunnel

novaecosse · Post by **novaecosse** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 20:12

MSAJohnny wrote:Southwick Tunnel definatley doesn't have crossover points. I have a photo...

Well you don't even get past first base then!!
I take it the tunnels and road surfaces are designed to be maintenance free??!!

Johnathan404 · Post by **Johnathan404** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 20:18

Like said, when there is work needed to be done, they just send you down the A270. There are 'secret signs' (is there an official name for them?) and everything waiting...

mr_roggger · Post by **mr_roggger** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 22:27

Please build this now! I can't wait, even though I very rarely use this route, look at what it was like today. Please note, Sunday, 20:11, and the speed indicated. I was mightily pleased to see the cones at the Southern end marking the start of work!

This turned out to be due to a minor shunt just by the Begley farm fork left.
I am liking the 2 lanes for straight on at the bottom end tho', forgot that was there, passed about 30 cars that way

AJK1982 · Post by **AJK1982** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 18:57

novaecosse wrote:
MSAJohnny wrote:Southwick Tunnel definatley doesn't have crossover points. I have a photo...
Well you don't even get past first base then!!
I take it the tunnels and road surfaces are designed to be maintenance free??!!

From local live pictures it looks like there is one just to the south of the tunnel and one much further to the east, almost at Hangleton. If there is no crossover, what is the point of the lane control?

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 21:20

I presume that the lane control is there in case of a breakdown within the tunnel requiring the closure of one lane as it is impossible to move the car off the road as it is outside of tunnels. I suspect that any pre planned lane closures would use conventional traffic management (i.e. cones, etc) in addition to the lane control signs

SarahJ · Post by **SarahJ** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 01:07

I have seen the lane control signs on the southwick tunnel on about once in 4 years, though there was nothing going on. The crossing points are now very overgrown. Lewis lives closer, so I'm sure he can get pics.

SJ

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:05

SarahJ wrote:I have seen the lane control signs on the southwick tunnel on about once in 4 years, though there was nothing going on. The crossing points are now very overgrown. Lewis lives closer, so I'm sure he can get pics.

SJ

You called?

There are crossover points at each end of the tunnel, but they dont look like they are for general use.

East
West

However, there are proper gaps a short distance either side. You can see the western one in the second link. Ive only seen the lane control signs on in the tunnels a couple of times, and it was due to accidents. Both times it seems that I was one of the last cars through before the road was closed and traffic sent down the A270.

Jeni · Post by **Jeni** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 19:18

On the M4 tunnels at Newport, a few months ago they had a night time contraflow in place, how would this of worked with orders, setting out etc?

Richardf · Post by **Richardf** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 18:23

Heard on the local TV news this morning. Work started today on the new tunnel and Hindhead bypass. Just fencing and relocation of wildlife for now but it is a start. Wont be open until the mid 2010's though!

Andy_J · Post by **Andy_J** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 13:48

Right, just been up to the exibition and had a word with the guy from the HA about contraflows in the tunnels.
He seems to think they wouldnt need an special orders to do this as it will have some kind of "at the HA's descretion" type thing going on, so all it needs is some cones, open the gates and fire up the VMS's.

highwaymana31 · Post by **highwaymana31** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 19:07

Andy_J wrote:Right, just been up to the exibition and had a word with the guy from the HA about contraflows in the tunnels.
He seems to think they wouldnt need an special orders to do this as it will have some kind of "at the HA's descretion" type thing going on, so all it needs is some cones, open the gates and fire up the VMS's.

As one who has been involved in closures/contraflows etc many times on HA routes I can assure you that he was talking through his ****. Bloody shiny suits

RichardA35 · Post by **RichardA35** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 19:48

highwaymana31 wrote:
Andy_J wrote:Right, just been up to the exibition and had a word with the guy from the HA about contraflows in the tunnels.
He seems to think they wouldnt need an special orders to do this as it will have some kind of "at the HA's descretion" type thing going on, so all it needs is some cones, open the gates and fire up the VMS's.
As one who has been involved in closures/contraflows etc many times on HA routes I can assure you that he was talking through his ****. Bloody shiny suits

Glenn, I have seen a copy of the proposed protocol for emergency and maintenance contraflows and closures. There is to be a TTRO renewed on an annual basis.

highwaymana31 · Post by **highwaymana31** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 20:16

RichardA35 wrote:
highwaymana31 wrote:
Andy_J wrote:Right, just been up to the exibition and had a word with the guy from the HA about contraflows in the tunnels.
He seems to think they wouldnt need an special orders to do this as it will have some kind of "at the HA's descretion" type thing going on, so all it needs is some cones, open the gates and fire up the VMS's.
As one who has been involved in closures/contraflows etc many times on HA routes I can assure you that he was talking through his ****. Bloody shiny suits
Glenn, I have seen a copy of the proposed protocol for emergency and maintenance contraflows and closures. There is to be a TTRO renewed on an annual basis.

So there is a "special order"...

MOTORAL1987 · Post by **MOTORAL1987** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 20:50

I wish they just get on with it!

Richardf · Post by **Richardf** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 09:52

MOTORAL1987 wrote:I wish they just get on with it!

Is that not what I told you they were doing?

You can't build a new road overnight, particularly a D2 incorporating 2 tunnels!

Yes I know the area has waited 40 years for it to come but just have a bit more patience!

I just wish they had done something like this at Winchester, rather than the monstrosity we have now, but thats another topic entirely........

cabriolet214 · Post by **cabriolet214** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:21

Andyf wrote:I just wish they had done something like this at Winchester, rather than the monstrosity we have now, but thats another topic entirely........

I agree absolutely. I also wish they'd get on and do something along similar lines with the A303 past Stonehenge but, again, that's an entirely different topic...

samxool · Post by **samxool** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 19:34

i drove down the A3 at hindhead and around the devil's punchbowl the other day. There were all these roadworks ahead signs and then followed by temporary traffic light sings. When i finally got to them, the temporary traffic lights weren't working, but they were at the Brook turn-off, which is right next to where the A3 turns to S2! that is the cause of all the queues.
if the temporary traffic lights are activated, i dread to think how bad the queues are. While i can't be positive why they are they, i can only guess its to do with the Hindhead tunnel. I really hope it is finally going ahead!!!!

Andy_J · Post by **Andy_J** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:27

The lights are there as theyre doing a bit of tree clearing and adjustments to the Bowlhead Green turn, I assume to allow the big logging lorries out there theyve been clearing the new approach to the tunnel.

The lights effectivly turn a D2 road int an S1 when theyre on though, which is scary, as the traffic for the lights queues up in BOTH lanes heading southbound. Thats gotta be a bit dodgy hasnt it?

SouthWest Philip · Post by **SouthWest Philip** » Sun May 13, 2007 17:18

I passed though Hindhead on the A3 recently. As ever, it was a little slow climbing the hill from the end of the dual carriageway (London side) to the traffic lights, but a good opportunity to see the start of works on the bypass/tunnel.

Anyway, whilst queuing in traffic, I noticed what I think may be a misuse of the red/orange studs marking the edges of the single carriageway.

On this part of the A3 they have used the split red/orange studs - the ones that are a different colour dependent on which direction you're coming from - on both sides of the single carriageway. These are usually used on the right hand boundary on motorways/dual carriageway but on a single carriageways they could give the impression (although there are double white lines) that the off-side boundary is the central reservation, not the opposite lane. Shouldn't the studs be all-red on both sides of the road in this instance? Perhaps Highwayman Glenn could answer because I think this may one of his roads??

highwaymana31 · Post by **highwaymana31** » Sun May 13, 2007 20:52

SouthWest Philip wrote: On this part of the A3 they have used the split red/orange studs - the ones that are a different colour dependent on which direction you're coming from - on both sides of the single carriageway. These are usually used on the right hand boundary on motorways/dual carriageway but on a single carriageways they could give the impression (although there are double white lines) that the off-side boundary is the central reservation, not the opposite lane. Shouldn't the studs be all-red on both sides of the road in this instance? Perhaps Highwayman Glenn could answer because I think this may one of his roads??

Not one of mine Philip, but I'll pass it on to the guy that does look after that route so that he can pass it on to the contractors who are "guests" on our network. Thanks for the heads-up